Iranian officials declared on Saturday that a potential agreement with Oman on managing the Strait of Hormuz is approaching but will not by itself restore free passage through the critical oil transit route. The secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, listed a series of demands the United States must fulfill first, including lifting the naval blockade and sanctions, withdrawing U.S. forces from the region, paying war reparations, releasing frozen Iranian assets, and ending threats or actions against Iran and its regional allies.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that talks with Oman on a new shipping route were “very close,” yet stressed that reopening remains contingent on additional U.S. actions, including compensation related to a June ceasefire memorandum. A spokesperson for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps separately stated that the strait’s reopening depends solely on Washington fully accepting Iran’s conditions and is not tied to the Oman negotiations.

The developments complicate efforts to restore normal maritime traffic after months of conflict that has sharply reduced passage through the strait, which handles a significant share of global oil shipments. The United Arab Emirates reported that one of its vessels, operated by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, was targeted by a missile while transiting the waterway, with no injuries reported.

U.S. officials had previously indicated optimism that an Iran-Oman arrangement could allow commercial shipping to resume, potentially leading to an end of the American blockade of Iranian ports. Oil markets have remained sensitive to the uncertainty, and the latest Iranian statements have dampened hopes for a swift resolution. The strait’s status continues to influence energy prices and regional security calculations involving multiple Gulf states. Diplomatic efforts involving mediators persist, but Tehran’s expansive list of preconditions signals a hard line that could prolong disruptions to one of the world’s most important shipping lanes.

Analysts note that the demands go well beyond navigation arrangements and touch on broader issues of sanctions, military posture, and financial claims stemming from the ongoing conflict.